Egyptologists Reveal New Secrets: Re-examinations and Remote Discoveries By Laura Ranieri Roy     The American Research Centre in Egypt’s (ARCE) 73rd Annual Meeting April 19-21, 2024  brought together scholars and Egyptophiles from around the world. It took place in the beautiful Omni Penn century hotel in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania – a surprisingly nice town and elegantly classic hotel. Omni Penn Hotel 1 Tutankhamun Mask presentation with Tom Hardwick  Scores of Egyptologists, archaeologists and PHD students hobnobbed, reconnected – and presented talks on their special fiel ..read more

Fond remembrances, a February 2024 Pyramids Temples Alive Egypt Tour Recap – and a Few of My Favourite Things! by Laura Ranieri Roy Call me obsessed, addicted, stark raving mad – I have travelled to Egypt 16 times – or is it 17 now? I can’t stop. Though ancient, Egypt never gets old! Every time I touch down in vibrant Cairo with its seething traffic, towering minarets, blaring horns, soot, smoke, slums and scintillating energy my heart comes alive. I dream regularly of the arrival in Cairo -it is in my soul. Fond memories of my first trip in 1993! My first trip to Egypt was when I was just ou ..read more

By Laura Ranieri Roy  (All photos c. Laura Ranieri Roy) It was ten years ago last February that I escaped wintry Toronto and flew to Egypt – to lend an ‘amateur’ hand to the new excavation and restoration project at Akhenaten’s great temple of Aten. Much exciting work has transpired at the Great Aten Temple site in a decade!  I was fortunate enough to make a return visit with a tour group in November 2022. Professor Barry Kemp generously toured us around the site – bounding up steps and inclines with the agility of a 30-something. We got a rare look at progress on the Great temple wi ..read more

Newly Opened Tombs in Luxor By Laura Ranieri Roy By guest contributor, Egyptologist and photographer Sharon Davidson  Recently opened tombs in Dra Abu el-Naga These two richly decorated tombs were opened in September 2019, but due to COVID I was only able to visit them recently.  The ticket was originally for three tombs located in this area (close to Carter house):  Roy (TT 255), Shuroy (TT 13), and Amenemopet (TT 148), but now there is the addition of these two newly restored tombs belonging to the two noblemen included on this ticket.   The two additional tombs ar ..read more

Hair and moustaches in ancient Egypt By Laura Ranieri Roy Did ancient Egyptians have fancy hair stylists and barbers – even at the dawn of their civilization? Was it considered cool to follow the latest trends set by the kings and the elite? What about having groomed moustaches and the latest wigs… were they de rigueur in ancient Egypt? My first fascination was with the little moustaches that seem to appear only on the art and statuary of the old Kingdom. I found it interesting that the “stache” pretty much disappears by the Middle Kingdom. Why – and what did they symbolize? This led me down a ..read more

Pharaonic Glories Conquer the City of Light by Laura Ranieri Roy Tutankhamun’s treasures may now be grounded for eternity, but the wonders of Egypt are still traveling the world. Now the banner is held not by the boy king, but by Ramses II, the greatest most powerful Pharaoh of all. A show featuring nearly 200 magnificent masterpieces (under his name) is touring the world between 2022 and 2025. Last year it graced the halls of the Houston, Museum of Natural Science and then at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, California. From April 7th to September 6th 2023 it is at the Grande H ..read more

by Laura Ranieri Roy “I felt that I was in the sanctuary of the arts and sciences…Never did the labour of man show me the human race in such a splendid point of view. In the ruins of Tentyra [ Roman for Dendera] the Egyptians appeared to me giants.” Vivant Denon, French writer, artist and leading Savant of the Napoleonic Mission to Egypt, 1798-1801 Denon was the first artist to discover and draw the temples and ruins of Upper Egypt. And the first Westerner to “wax poetic” about the beautiful temple of Denderah, then partially covered in sand, continues to awe and inspires visitors to this da ..read more

by Laura Ranieri Roy Soaring, gleaming – elegantly modern and refined. A repository of the greatest archaeological treasures in the world. I am speaking of course about the Grand Egyptian Museum – the GEM — a wondrous edifice that now rises at the foot of the Giza pyramids – yet another great wonder of the world has appeared. Our small tour group was among the first lucky ones to enter its elegant courtyard and magnificent main hall in February 2023 as soon as a soft opening was finally announced.  The full grand opening attended by kings, presidents, and dignitaries should unfold soon ..read more

Our contributing correspondent – Egyptologist, Sharon Davidson             We are thrilled to feature the beautiful photography and commentary of our friend Egyptologist Sharon Davidson in this guest blog about the tombs of Ay. Ay is an interesting character. He may have been a brother or half-brother of the great Queen Tiye. He was certainly a “sycophantic” advisor in Akhenaten’s kingdom, supporting his religious revolution. He was also likely Nefertiti’s dad! And certainly he was the crafty old official who managed to succeed Tutankhamun, marrying his young wi ..read more

Highlights of our Recent Egypt Tour – And Why To Travel to Egypt Soon! By Laura Ranieri Roy A special visit to the Meidum pyramid, 2nd pyramid ever constructed by Snefru (or Huni) c. 2500 BCE. It is a very special time in Egypt. I will even venture to say, the most special, perhaps, since after Tutmania hit in the 1920s with Carter’s tomb discovery. With a bounty of new archaeological discoveries, openings and re-openings of tourist sites, museums and luxury hotels, the country remains in jubilation – and on the cusp of a spectacular renaissance. No surprise that Egypt features on Conde Nast ..read more